[District 66TH, Terra Pharmaceuticals Headquarters]
Irene stared at the phone silently before closing her eyes to gather her thoughts.
What if what Nate said turned out to be true?
Just thinking about it gives me a headache, assuming that the influenza virus spreads only within District 61AU, but the impact is still very large. But according to Nate, there will be fans from all over the world who travel to stadiums that host football matches.
Well, Sydney United's stadium holds about 50,000 people and when the match ends people return to their district or home.
This is terrible. How can we control so many people?
Knock knock
There was a knock at the door but without waiting for Irene's answer. A beautiful woman with black hair walked into the room.
"Irene, look at this." Yuki said hurriedly.
"Hm? The lab results that the CDC asked us to check from earlier?"
Our private company's technology is more advanced than the federal government's and therefore receives these types of requests to detect germs and viruses.
'I hope it's not what I thought it was.'
"Yes, really bad news."
-The results of the infection match the database [picture]
It is a spherical virus covered with hairs.
-Inside the glass tube is the influenza virus (H1N1).
sigh
"At least we're lucky that the police were able to apprehend the culprit before it spread to our district~" Yuki tried to relax Irene because from the look on her face, Irene didn't look good.
After a moment of silence, Irene spoke softly.
"Yuki, I have bad news too."
"Say it. I want to know."
Irene then tells Yuki what Nate told her.
"How likely do you think it is?" Yuki asked while having the same expression as Irene.
"Nate's statement that people are starting to have a slight fever along with a light cough is very similar to the symptoms of influenza."
"...This is worse than I thought. No, it's really bad."
"We need to ask for cooperation with the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control."
"I agree with you. I'll go submit a request for information about the patient during this time."
"It might be difficult for the government to provide information about sick people, but try your best, Yuki. I will work to speed up the mass production of vaccines."
A moment passed.
Yuki returned with an irritated expression.
"Irene, they might cooperate with us, but they might act very slowly, and they said there are only common cold patients these days! Plus, I was also argued by the other side about how there would be so many patients in the summer."
"Me too. Our company doesn't allow mass production without proof because it will cause the company to lose a huge amount of profits.." Irin said while feeling deeply dissatisfied.
.
'Losing huge profits? What about the lives of many people around the world?'
.
"What about the incubation period of this disease?"
"Um, maybe 4-5 days. Our latest research doesn't have in-depth patient case data. But in the beginning the patient may not show any symptoms at all."
"This would be terrifying to have a patient infected but not show any symptoms."
"..I would probably have to risk my own career."
"Are you going to use your reputation to get them to do it?"
"Otherwise, do you have any other way?"
"Not at all. If we just wait, it will really be too late."
I suspect that our company will definitely have cracks within the organization this time.
***
At some unknown place
"How is the operation working?"
"We can produce "that" without any problems, sir."
"Great, really great." The man in a suit chuckled as he admired the view from his office window on a high-rise building.
Just like this, the opportunity won't escape us anywhere. Just one more step...
***
Inside the kitchen of the safe house
There was the sound of cooking and soft humming.
"It smells so good. I hope it's to Umi's taste."
I make dishes for sick people and try not to make them too salty or spicy. It's Shirashidon or simply rice topped with many types of fish, but what I make most of the time, I cook the ingredients until cooked. Another thing is Chawanmushi, also known as Japanese steamed eggs. This should be suitable for patients because it has a mellow taste and complete nutrition.
Surprisingly, the fish in the ocean are very clean even though the world is experiencing nuclear disasters and some places, such as District 91IN, have recently had a safe environment free from residues. Until recently people were able to move and start setting up residences.
In this world, magic and gates from this early era were really difficult to understand whether they were destroying or reshaping the world to suit people.
If it were a fish in my old world I would have to worry about a lot of residue like mercury or microplastics. But in the previous Dark Ages on Earth called Terra, they had to worry about the radioactive substances that might be left in the fish.
Either way is equally bad. But maybe I was lucky?, born at a time when everything was changing for the better. But when I think about the upcoming events, I may have to change my mind. A large number of people around the world are likely to die due to their lack of readiness to deal with the disease. But what's even worse is that the cause may come from humans themselves.
Knock knock
When I opened the bedroom door on the second floor, I saw Umi intently reading a textbook on the bed.
She didn't seem to know I had entered the room.
Even though you're sick, why don't you think about taking a rest?
I glanced at the cover of the book Umi was reading. It has big letters that say "Biochemicals".
'Uh..but Umi, who just became a 4th year high school student, reads something like this!! I thought I was weird but who would have thought she would read that far?'
Perhaps Umi also receives inspiration from people around her, such as our mother. But I hope Umi isn't in a hurry to read "Anatomy". Just the thought of a critical hit on my back made me feel...
Sniff Sniff
"Hm, Nate, what's that? It smells so good."
"It's our dinner."
After we ate dinner together, Umi was now eating yogurt and humming a song in a good mood.
"It looks like your fever has gone down," I said after checking the readings on the digital thermometer.
[36.7 degrees Celsius]
This digital thermometer is a product from Nexon Electric. Three years ago, I asked my company to produce a digital thermometer because I wanted to use it to accurately measure the temperature of my steak. Who would have thought that the brand would grow to become the famous electronics company it is today?
It might be a bad joke. What started as a device for measuring beef doneness that day has become a medical device for measuring temperature today.
'I really don't think Umi is fat at all haha..huh..or maybe she's been eating a lot of sweets lately because her cheeks have gotten a little chubbier.'
"Are you thinking something rude?" Umi asked, looking at me with narrowed eyes.
gulp
"Ahem, you're thinking too much~"
'Perhaps women's intuition is frighteningly accurate, and perhaps it is even more accurate than my abilities.'
"Hmm Fine, I'm in good health so I got better quickly. Hehe~"
"Then you didn't pretend to be sick during the day, right?"
"Are you crazy? Why would I pretend to be sick?"
"I don't know. Maybe you're tired of cooking for me..."
"..kek kukum"
"Eh, what's funny?"
"Nothing, hehehe." Umi laughed in a good mood.
'I'm just saying what I think. Maybe her fever is gone but her mood is still swinging.'
"I'm relieved to see you're feeling better. I'll be right back."
"Okay~"
After washing the dishes and preparing a hot water bag for Umi
Umi and I sat together reading books and doing homework. Even though it was homework, it was not the kind of homework I had originally thought. Inside the document that the instructor distributes to everyone is a student handbook regarding various rules that students in the so-called first year should know. and questionnaire regarding study plans of interest The results that we present to teachers may result in The Hex being able to improve to meet the needs of students if there is reason and possibility.
-There will be many study tracks to choose from, depending on which subject you are interested in taking. Such as science-mathematics, mathematics-society, language-society, etc.
-...
-In the first year, those who choose compulsory subjects such as science subjects will be separated into physics, chemistry, biology, etc. to provide students with holistic knowledge so that students can decide which faculty they will choose to study in their higher years.
-In the first year, those who choose compulsory subjects such as social studies will be separated into economics, political science, law, history, etc.
-Some elective subjects There is only pass and fail but you can choose to take as many courses as you want...
-...
-Practical subjects, such as learning basic magic. Those who have passed the exam certificate can skip the course to learning applied magic...
-You can read more information on the website.
When he realized again, the sunlight that shone through the window had disappeared and only darkness remained.
[6:30 p.m.]
Vrrrr!
My mobile phone notifies me.
[Sydney United 0 - 0 Perth FC] [0+ minutes]
It's starting now.
.